GLOBAL SUPERSTAR VOCALIST KELLY CLARKSON SET TO HOST THE 2018 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

Multi-platinum music superstar, Billboard chart topper and current “Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson will host the three-hour live telecast of the “2018 Billboard Music Awards,” set to air from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas onMonday, 21 May at 8:00AM.

The show will featurethisyear’shottestmusicalacts,biggestperformances,unexpectedcollaborationsandbuzzworthy pop culturemoments.

The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Reality Group, NBC Entertainment.

“Kelly Clarkson has long been a Billboard chart phenomenon and has a first-hand understanding of what mattersmostinmusictoday,”Telegdysaid.“Herenthusiasmforallgenresofmusicandherinnatesense of humor will make for a truly memorablenight.”

“To prepare me for hosting the ‘Billboard Music Awards,’ I already have 20 costume changes planned,” Clarkson said. “I will be flying in like my girl P!nk and calling Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman for jokes. Well, or I’m just gonna show up and celebrate my favorite artists and get to know a few more. Yeah, maybe I’ll go with that plan.”

Clarksonhassoldmorethan25millionalbumsand36millionsinglesworldwide.Shehasplaced10singles in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and a CMAAward.

The acclaimed singer/songwriter released her highly anticipated new album “Meaning of Life,” the first forAtlanticRecords,onOct.27,2017.“MeaningofLife,”featuringtheemotionallychargednewsingle,"I Don't Think About You," is the album Clarkson was destined to make with Atlantic, a collection of smart and sensual soul-inspired pop that immediately belongs among the legendary label’s classic canon. For her eighth studio album – and follow-up to 2015’s chart-topping “Piece By Piece” – Clarkson united a stellar team of top songwriters and producers to collaborate, among them past collaborators Jason Halbert,JesseShatkinandGrammyAward-winningProduceroftheYearGregKurstin,aswellasfirst-time collaborators Mick Schultz, the Monarch and Nick Ruth, amongothers.

Clarkson’s“PiecebyPiece,”debutedat#1onBillboard’sTop200chart,markingherthird#1debut.“Piece by Piece” garnered two 2016 Grammy nominations (Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance for her hit single “HeartbeatSong”).

Clarkson’s 2011 release, “Stronger,” was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and produced the smash singles “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” which marked her ninth and 10th Top 10 hits. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks (three weeks total), marking her third #1 on the Hot 100 chart. In 2013, she released her first holiday album, “Wrapped in Red,” which debuted at #3, was the biggest holiday album debut for a female artist since 2010 and is certified platinum.

Clarkson is also a New York Times best-selling author, having recently released her 2nd children’s picture book, "River Rose and the Magical Christmas". This is the follow-up to “River Rose and the Magical Lullaby,” which debuted at #7 on The New York Times bestsellers list for children’s picture books.

The “2018 Billboard Music Awards” produced by dick clark productions will air LIVE, first and exclusive, on Blue Ant Entertainment. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, Mark Bracco, Barry Adelman and Robert Deaton are executive producers.

For the latest Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) news, exclusive content and more, be sure to follow Blue Ant Entertainment on https://www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment, @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram, and@BlueAntEnt on Twitter. Join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #BBMAs.